Newton Abbot Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Explore 6 verdicts at Newton Abbot Magistrates' Court (Newton Abbot, Newton Abbot). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

October 2026 1 case

Lewis Cowell

20 Oct 2026

Drug-driving and possession of cocaine *

Sentence

Fined £360 and disqualified from driving for 18 months

Lewis Cowell was sentenced for two drug-driving offences and two counts of possessing cocaine. He drove with a proportion of a controlled drug above the specified limit on Parkside Road, Paignton, on November 5, 2025, and committed a second drug-driving offence on Ford Road, Wiveliscombe, Somerset, on December 5, 2025. He was also found in possession of 15.07g of cocaine on Esplanade Road, Paignton, on May 12, 2026, and a further 0.4g of cocaine in Paignton on November 5, 2025. The court ordered all cocaine to be forfeited and destroyed.

Admitted two drug-driving offences and two counts of possessing cocaine. All cocaine was ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.

southhams-today.co.uk

Checked against source 22 Oct 2026

November 2025 1 case

Kenneth Smith

14 Nov 2025

Harassment *

Sentence

£1,000 compensation and three-year restraining order

Kenneth Smith, 72, from Cumber Close, Brixham, engaged in a sustained campaign of harassment against his 85-year-old widow neighbour, the victim, over a wooden fence separating their bungalows. He angled his drainpipe to direct rainwater onto her property, used abusive language, stared through her window, made threatening gestures, and sawn off five fence posts at the base. The victim installed a camera capturing his behaviour and obtained a county court order against him for £26,000 in damages. The fence became rotten, requiring replacement at a cost of £1,700.

Admitted harassing his elderly neighbour. Magistrates found he had sawn off fence posts. Cares for his bedbound wife.

devonlive.com

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

June 2025 1 case

Joseph Carr

12 Jun 2025

Theft *

Sentence

9 months imprisonment and a 3-year Criminal Behaviour Order

Joseph Carr, of no fixed abode in Torquay, targeted elderly victims by stealing handbags and purses, and committed thefts from shops and pickpocketing over a two-year period. He also carried out one residential burglary, one racially aggravated public order offence, and one criminal damage incident, causing harm and distress to victims in the community.

Pleaded guilty to eight counts of theft, one count of residential burglary, one count of racially aggravated public order, and one count of criminal damage. The Criminal Behaviour Order prohibits entering Torquay town centre except for specific appointments and bans him from certain premises.

devonlive.com

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

November 2024 2 cases

Leoni Ball

17 Nov 2024

Animal welfare offences *

Sentence

12 month Community Order with 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days, £40 fine, £114 victim surcharge, £400 costs, 5 year ban from keeping animals

On 14 November 2024, RSPCA Inspector Beccy Wadey visited the Paignton home of Carsten Walker and Leoni Ball at Fernicombe Close following welfare concerns. The property housed over a dozen animals in poor conditions, including underweight dogs and cats living in cages without adequate food, water, or flea treatment. Specific animals included underweight husky Jasmine and her 10-week-old puppy, American Akita Sasha, lethargic kittens with fleas, underweight mother cat Kylie, Saluki-type Dara with skin condition, crossbreed Levi with hair loss, and husky-type Winter with skin issues and long nails. Five dogs, one cat, and eight kittens were seized and treated, recovering well. All remaining animals were signed over to the RSPCA.

Pleaded guilty to four animal welfare offences. In mitigation, cited homeless friends leaving animals behind and lack of funds due to unemployment and zero hours contract.

devonlive.com

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

Carsten Walker

17 Nov 2024

Animal welfare offences *

Sentence

12 month Community Order with 15 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days, £40 fine, £114 victim surcharge, £400 costs, 5 year ban from keeping animals

Pleaded guilty to four animal welfare offences. In mitigation, cited homeless friends leaving animals behind and lack of funds due to unemployment and zero hours contract.

devonlive.com

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

Sentencing date not recorded 1 case

We could not confirm the sentencing date for these from the source report, so none is shown. Everything else about them was checked as usual.

David Gorton

Illegal deposit of controlled waste *

Sentence

Fined £1,466 and ordered to pay £12,300 economic benefit, £3,614 Environment Agency costs and victim surcharge

David Gorton, 59, of Newton Abbot, deposited 1,368 tonnes of soil and stone at Little Lindridge Farm, Kingsteignton, between July 19 2018 and May 16 2019, without an environmental permit in force authorising the deposit, while operating as a registered waste carrier. The landowner falsely claimed to have a licence, but Gorton failed to verify this.

Pleaded guilty to the illegal deposit of controlled waste and failing to comply with his duty of care as a waste carrier. Continued deposits after Environment Agency warning in 2019.

dawlish-today.co.uk

Checked against source, except the date 28 Aug 2026

About these records: Each record is compiled from a published media report or other publicly available source, and reports a sentence as it was published. It is general information, not legal advice, and it is not a criminal record check: it must not be used to make decisions about anyone's employment, housing, credit or insurance.

Offence names marked with an asterisk (*) follow the wording used in the report and may not match the formal legal charge. A record does not suggest that the person named has committed any other offence. Convictions can be overturned, and sentences changed, on appeal after a report is published. Records that share a name are separate records and may concern different people.

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The Court House, Newfoundland Way, Newton Abbot TQ12 1NG, Newton Abbot, Newton Abbot, TQ12 1NG, United Kingdom

+441803617880

www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk

Wheelchair accessible parking, Wheelchair accessible entrance

Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 17:00

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About Newton Abbot Magistrates' Court

Newton Abbot Magistrates' Court, located in Newton Abbot, Newton Abbot, is a Magistrates' Court that deals with summary offences, some either-way offences, and preliminary hearings for more serious cases. With 6 sentencing records in our database, it serves the Newton Abbot, Newton Abbot area and surrounding communities. Magistrates' Courts handle the majority of criminal cases in England and Wales, with cases heard by a bench of magistrates or a district judge.

The court can be found at The Court House, Newfoundland Way, Newton Abbot TQ12 1NG, TQ12 1NG.

Accessibility provisions at this court include wheelchair accessible entrance and wheelchair accessible parking.

For enquiries about cases heard at this court, you can contact the court by telephone on +441803617880 or visit the official court website for further information.

The sentencing information on this page is compiled from published media reports and other publicly available sources, with automated and editorial checks applied before publication. If you believe any information is inaccurate, out of date, or should be removed, you can submit a removal request directly from the relevant listing above and it will be reviewed by a person.